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Episodes
Two chatty authors asking all the ’write’ questions. Hosted by Ari Meghlen and Rachel Poli, The Merry Writer Podcast is a fun, friendly show about all things writing and bookish.
Two chatty authors asking all the ’write’ questions. Hosted by Ari Meghlen and Rachel Poli, The Merry Writer Podcast is a fun, friendly show about all things writing and bookish.
Episodes

Wednesday Sep 06, 2023
How Can ADHD Writers Stay Motivated? | Ep. 180 | The Merry Writer Podcast
Wednesday Sep 06, 2023
Wednesday Sep 06, 2023
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Do you sometimes struggle with your ADHD and motivation when you're writing? Are you having trouble finding a writing routine and sticking with it? Don't worry; Jeremy Russell joins Ari and Rachel this week with tips and tricks for us all.
In this episode, we cover:
- An example of what the ADHD thought process may look like
- Struggles writers with ADHD might have
- How to stay motivated
- Techniques to stay focused
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
ABOUT JEREMY RUSSELL
Jeremy Russell is a married, father of two young men, two cats and a new puppy. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, he always thought himself as a collector of hobbies, but as it turns out, it was hyper fixation. The two hobbies that remained constant were writing and art.
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
We are accepting guest applications for The Merry Writer Podcast! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.
Due to high interest, our guest slots for 2023 are filled. Applications are still open (for 2024), but we may take a while to get back to you.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snap up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!
Share
If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our patrons, Kristen Poli & Plottr

Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
What Is The 7-Point Plot System? | Ep. 179 | The Merry Writer Podcast
Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Are you considering how to outline your novel? Whether you used to be a pantser or you have always been a plotter, today's episode is discussing one of the methods for outlining.
The 7 point plot system is the method Ari uses so she's going through the different steps.
In this episode, we cover:
- The 7 points in this outlining method
- Discussions about when the inciting incident should occur
- A tangent about montages
- Why Ari likes this method
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
We are accepting guest applications for The Merry Writer Podcast! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.
Due to high interest, our guest slots for 2023 are filled. Applications are still open (for 2024), but we may take a while to get back to you.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!
Share
If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our patrons, Kristen Poli & Plottr

Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Middle grade novels are the link between early readers and kids continuing their reading journey to YA and beyond. But what makes middle grade so unique from other age groups? This week, Ari and Rachel discuss the many traits that go into a middle grade novel.
In this episode, we cover:
- What middle grade novels are
- Themes in middle grade novels
- Word counts of middle grade novels
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
We are accepting guest applications for The Merry Writer Podcast! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.
Due to high interest, our guest slots for 2023 are filled. Applications are still open (for 2024), but we may take a while to get back to you.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snap up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!
Share
If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our patrons, Kristen Poli & Plottr

Wednesday Aug 16, 2023
How Do You Approach Writing Horror? | Ep. 177 | A.S McDermott
Wednesday Aug 16, 2023
Wednesday Aug 16, 2023
**QUICK NOTE** Apologies for some of the sound quality, I had some issues with my microphone
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Do you want to write creepy stories? Have an interest in scaring your readers? Then check out today's podcast where author A. S. McDermott joins Ari to discuss writing horror stories.
This week, we cover:
- Characterisations of a horror story
- Biggest hurdles horror writers have
- How important locations are
- Book-length
- Standalone or series
- Advice for would-be horror writers
- Killing off your characters
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
ABOUT A.S McDermott
A.S. McDermott was born in England but now lives in South Carolina with his wife, kids, and assorted cats. He has been writing since he was very young but has only recently begun publishing his work.
Aside from novels and short stories, he also writes screenplays and directed a short horror film called The Party (2010). When not writing, he likes to swim, watch movies and travel.
Links
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/imaginarycinema
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7501196.A_S_McDermott
- Buy Link: https://books2read.com/ap/8pyjmz/AS-McDermott
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
We are accepting guest applications for The Merry Writer Podcast! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.
Due to high interest, our guest slots for 2023 are now filled. Applications are still open (for 2024), but we may take a while to get back to you.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!
Share
If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
Do Word Counts Truly Matter? | Ep. 176 | The Merry Writer Podcast
Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
It's so easy to get wrapped up in the numbers rather than the quality of your work. This week, Ari and Rachel discuss when word counts matter and when they don't.
In this episode, we cover:
- Word count updates during a writing session
- Word count updates on social media
- Word counts in various genres and age groups
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
We are accepting guest applications for The Merry Writer Podcast! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.
Due to high interest, our guest slots for 2023 are filled. Applications are still open (for 2024), but we may take a while to get back to you.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snap up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!
Share
If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our patrons, Kristen Poli & Plottr

Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
Why Do Writers Need Perseverance? | Ep. 175 | The Merry Writer Podcast
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
In today's episode, Ari and Rachel are joined by author Kyle Robertson to discuss the importance of perseverance in writers.
This week, we cover:
- Why writers need perseverance
- What can affect a writer's perseverance
- How to avoid burn out
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
ABOUT KYLE ROBERTSON
Kyle Robertson is a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a marketing professional, freelance editor, and self-published author of the historical fiction thriller "The Showstopper" on Amazon.
In addition to his other projects, he is a third-degree Black Belt and instructor in Tang Soo Do, an avid hiker and traveler, and lover of reading, music, games, and movies.
Links
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/krobnovelist
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krobnovelist
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kylerobertsonnovelist
- Website: https://kylerobertsonnovelist.com/
- Amazon: amzn.to/2PYC8k9
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
We are accepting guest applications for The Merry Writer Podcast! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.
Due to high interest, our guest slots for 2023 are now filled. Applications are still open (for 2024), but we may take a while to get back to you.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!
Share
If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
Do You Annotate Your Books? | Ep. 174 | The Merry Writer Podcast
Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Have you ever seen people writing or drawing inside the books they read? They're annotating their books to help understand the context better or just to make it look pretty.
In this episode, we cover:
- What annotating books means
- Whether or not we annotate our books
- Different ways to annotate your books
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
We are accepting guest applications for The Merry Writer Podcast! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.
Due to high interest, our guest slots for 2023 are filled. Applications are still open (for 2024), but we may take a while to get back to you.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!
Share
If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our patrons, Kristen Poli & Plottr

Wednesday Jul 19, 2023
What Do You Need To Know About Vanity Metrics? | Ep. 173 | The Merry Writer Podcast
Wednesday Jul 19, 2023
Wednesday Jul 19, 2023
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Not all metrics are the same, especially when it comes to social media metrics. Knowing what's important and where to focus your attention can be a game changer. So in today's episode, Ari and Rachel discuss Vanity Metrics.
In this episode, we cover:
- What are vanity metrics
- What are active metrics
- Social media hierarchies
- The power of comments
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!
Share
If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our patrons, Kristen Poli & Plottr

Wednesday Jul 12, 2023
What Is Therapeutic Writing? | Ep. 172 | The Merry Writer Podcast
Wednesday Jul 12, 2023
Wednesday Jul 12, 2023
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Writing doesn't always have to be creative or academic. It comes in many shapes and forms and therapeutic writing is one of them. This week, Ari and Rachel discuss what exactly therapeutic writing is and different ways to utilize it.
In this episode, we cover:
- What therapeutic writing is
- Where and how you can add your thoughts
- Different ways you can express yourself through therapeutic writing
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snap up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!
Share
If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our patrons, Kristen Poli & Plottr

Wednesday Jul 05, 2023
Do Writers Need To Be On Social Media? | Ep. 171 | The Merry Writer Podcast
Wednesday Jul 05, 2023
Wednesday Jul 05, 2023
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Just how useful is social media for writers? Have you found yourself wondering if it was even worth it? Today writer E.A. Whyte joins Ari and Rachel to discuss just that.
In this episode, we cover:
- The importance of social media
- The impact of social media
- Best ways to engage with followers
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
ABOUT E.A WHYTE
I started writing the summer between semesters of college on a whim. With one book under my belt, I knew that I'd found my calling.
My dream is to become a published author but also to support new authors realize their own stories. For now, I'm a barista at a local coffee shop by day, and a writer by night.
Connect With Our Guests
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
We are accepting guest applications for The Merry Writer Podcast! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.
Due to high interest, our guest slots for 2023 are filled. Applications are still open (for 2024), but we may take a while to get back to you.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snap up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!
Share
If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our patrons, Kristen Poli & Plottr
